Rail-joint.



C. V. JOHNSON.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION men FEB. 4. 1916.

1,201,304. I Patented 001;. 17, 1916.

nnirnn siarns PATENT onnioni.

CECIL V. JOHNSON, OF OAK HILL, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Onon. V. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oak Hill,in the county of Fayette and State of WestVirginia, have invented a new and useful Rail-Joint, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention has reference to an improved rail joint, and hasfor an object to provide a joint wherein the opposite ends of a rail areof the same formation, so that when a number of rails are assembled, itis not essential to turn the rails into predetermined positions in orderto bring together mating ends or interlocking parts. I

The present invention contemplates rail ends all of the sameconstruction, and the provision of a splice bar, which is adapted to fitbetween the ends of the rails and to hold them in interlocked position,so that they cannot separate longitudinally, and cannot separate by anylateral movement out of line with each other.

It is another object of the invention to provide the device with achair, or secondary lock adapted to unite the ends of the splice bar tothe adjacent ends of the rails and to so arrange openings in the basesof the rails and the splice bar that ordinary spikes may be used forinterlocking the chairs, the rails, and the splice bar together in theact of spiking the rails to the ties. 'Thus, by the improvedconstruction of this invention all fish plates, bolts, and otherseparable devices are done away with and the entire locking and securingof the parts together is effected by the driving in of the usual spikesin substantially the usual manner.

The invention has for a still further object the provision of a strong,easily assembled joint wherein no excess material is employed, and whichis of such form and construction that the tongues on the opposite endsof the rails may be formed by cutting the rails subsequent to theirdelivery from the rolls, and while the rails are hot.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be brought out inthe following specific description of the present preferred embodimentof the invention, the same being illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a rail joint, embodyingthe features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,parts of the joint being shown in section. Fig. 3

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed February 4., 1916. Serial No. 76,206.

is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, andshowing the splice bar in end elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail perspectiveview of one end of one of the rails. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of thesplice bar, showing one side thereof broken away to disclose theinterlocking lug adapted for engagement in the recess of the tongueshown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the upperend of the splice bar and the tongues fitting therein, showing theapplication of bolts for heavy rail use.

Referring to this drawing, wherein like parts are designated by similar.characters of reference throughout the several views, 10 and 11designate rails, which as shown in Fig. 1 are secured together at theiradjacent ends. Each rail, 10 and 11, is of like form throughout and ateach end. In Fig. 5 is disclosed the end of the rail, wherein the heador tread of the rail is supported upon a web 12 in the usual manner,terminating at its lower end in a base flange 13. The base flange 13 hasnear the end of the rail and at each side thereof, an elongated opening14: to receive the shank of a spike therethrough, as will hereinafterappear. At the end of the rail 10 is a tongue 15 of the same thicknessand height of the web 12, and which comprises an extension or elongationthereof. This tongue 15 is provided in its upper edge with a recess 16,the same being formed intermediate the inner and outer ends of thetongue and providing inner and outer abutting shoulders 17 and 18,respectively. As shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the rails 10 and 11, whichare to be connected are placed in substantially abutting position,whereby the tongues 15 of the opposite rails are brought into alinement,and have their outer ends substantially abutting.

It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 5 that the outer ends of thetongues 15are straight, and extend vertically as at 19, to provide fiat abuttingfaces on the tongues. The

tongue 15 is of the same height as the Web 12, so as to provide a spaceabove the tongue 15 sufficient to receive the head or tread portion 20of a splice bar, which is adapted to be fitted downwardly over theend-wise abutting tongues 15. As shown in Fig. 4:, the splice barcomprises a head or tread portion of the size and shape of the heads ofthe rails 10 and 11, and which is adapted to seat IOU upon the upperedge of the tongues 15. The opposite ends of the head 20 of the splicebar abut against the opposed spaced extremities 21 of the rail heads, soas to form substanti ally a continuation of the same. The head 20 of thesplice bar is supported upon a pair of spaced apart walls or websections 22 which extend down against the opposite sides of the tongues15, overlap the same, and have upon their lower edges longitudinaloutstanding base flange sections 23. These base flange sections and theweb sections 22, are of the same length as the length of the head 20, sothat the splice bar fits, as a whole, snugly in between the spaced apartends of the rails 10 and 11, and provides between the web sections 22 alongitudinal slot 2i, into which. is fitted the tongues 15.

The tongues 15 are adapted for slight longitudinal movement in the slot24:, but are held in interlocking engagement with the splice bar bymeans of lugs 25 formed in the splice bar between the web sections 22,and against the under side of the head 20. These lugs 25 are located,one adjacent each end of the splice bar and in such position as to fitdown into the adjacent recesses 16 of each of the tongues 15. From Fig.2, it will be noted, that the recesses 16 are of slightly greater lengththan is the length of the lugs 25, so as to admit of a slight playbetween the tongues 15 and the splice bar. Nith this construction, thejoint is capable of taking up expansion and contraction of the parts,incident to climatic, and other conditions. It will thus be seen thatwhen the splice bar is fitted down over the tongues 15 and the lugs 25seated in the recesses 16, the rails with their tongues are held fromspreading apart longitudinally, and are also held from relative lateralmovement out of line with each other.

Each rail, 10 and 11, is provided at its adjacent connected end with achair 26, which comprises a flat metallic plate extending transverselybeneath the base flange of the rail and which is provided with a pair ofopposed inwardly extending flanges 27, which overhang the body portionof the chair, and are adapted to receive therebeneath the opposite sidesof the base flange of the rail. The chairs 26 are slidable upon therails 10 and 11, and when the splice bar is seated down upon the tongues15, and the base flange sections 23 of the splice bar register in thesame plane with the flanges of the rails 10 and 11, the chairs 26 of therails are adapted to be slid longitudinally on the rails to partiallyoverlap the base flange sections 23 of the splice bar. This arrangementis shown to advantage in Fig. .1, wherein the chairs engage at one sideupon their respective rails 10 and. 11

and at their opposite sides upon the opposite ends of the splice bar.Thus, the splice bar is held from vertical movement out of engagementwith the tongues 15 and is also held against lateral movement orspreading by these chairs. Any force tending to draw the rails 10 and 11longitudinally apart moves the tongues 15in the slot 24: and thus bringsthe outer abutting shoulders 18 of the tongues into contact with thelugs 25. The lugs 25, being a part of the splice bar, thus prevent thespreading of the tongues, and consequently interlock and securely holdthe rail ends together. The flanges of each chair 26 are provided withan opening near each end, the openings in the flanges 27 registeringvertically over the openings l-lin the base flanges 13 of the rails toreceive therethrough a spike 28 adapted to be driven downwardly throughthe flanges 27, and 13, and down through correspondingly formed openingsin the body or base portion of the chair 26. The spikes pass downthrough these flanges and the chair to interlock all of these memberstogether, and the spikes are further driven into the tie 29 to securethe rails thereto.

The lon itudinal openings 1% in the base flanges or" the rails admit ofthe relative longitudinal movement of the parts due to expansion andcontraction.

It will thus be noted that with the rail joint of this construction, andembodying the features of this invention, the opposite ends of rails aresimilarly formed, so that it is not necessary to bring together certainpredetermined mating ends of rails to provide the interlock. The tongueson the ends of the rails are all of the same length, form and thickness,and are received in the longitudinal slots of the splice bars used tounite the rails. It will also be noted that by the provision of thechairs with the peculiarly arranged openings therein, the chairs, therails, and the splice bar are all peculiarly interlocked by the drivingin of spikes in substantially the usual manner of securing rails to theties.

From Fig. 6, it will be noted that the base flange sections 23 of thesplice bar are provided near each end with a vertically extendingopening 30 through which the spikes 28 are adapted to pass ininterlocking the splice bar to the opposite chairs 26. From Fig. 1, itwill be noted that each flange of each of the chairs has two spikesdriven downwardly therethrough, one of the spikes passing downwardlythrough the openings 30 in the adjacent ends of the splice bar to lockthe chair to the splice bar. The opposite spike 28 passes downwardlythrough the flange 27 and through the opening lt in the base flange ofthe adjacent rail so as to lock the rail to the chair. Thus, the chaircomprises an inter-' lock between the splice bar and the rail. Thisconstruction is provided at each end of the splice bar, so that thesplice bar is securely held at its opposite ends to the opposite rails.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing, there is shown an arrangement, which may beemployed in addition to the interlocking means above described, forholding the tongues in the splice bar in heavy rail construction. Inthis arrangement the tongues 15 are provided, outwardly of the recessestherein, with relatively large transverse openings 31, which registerwith smaller openings 32 formed in registration in the opposite websections :22 of the splice bar. Bolts 33 are positioned through thesplice bar and the tongue 15 to firmly hold the tongues in the splicebar in addition to the interlocking lugs 25, shown in Fig. 2. It is, ofcourse, understood that any number of these bolts 33 may be employed,and also that in light rail construction, the bolts may be eliminated.

The chairs 26 seat upon the tie 29 immediately beneath the adjacent endsof the rails 10 and 11, and beneath the splice bar, so as to prevent theundue sinking of the rail flanges in the tie and to thus hold the railsand the splice bar in true horizontal alinement and from any verticaldisplacement.

It is, of course, understood that various changes may be made in form,design, and size to accommodate the present invention to all types oftracks, the invention being of particular advantage in laying rails inmines, and other relatively small rails. It

will also be noted that as there is an absence of fish plates, bolts,and other like devices, considerable time is saved by the use of thisimproved joint, as the ordinary driving in of the spikes secures thedetachable parts in interlockingrelation and firmly holds the jointtogether.

That is claimed is 1. In a rail joint, a pair of rails having liketongues extending from their opposite ends with recesses in their upperedges, a splice bar fitting between the adjacent ends of the rails andhaving a longitudinal slot in its under side adapted to receive thereinthe adjacent abutting tongues and provided with a lug near each end andin said slot for engagement in the recesses of the op posed tongueswhereby to prevent the longitudinal and lateral separation of the rails,said splice bar having a base flange adapted to lie in the plane of thebase flanges of the rails, chairs slidably fitting over the bases of therails and adapted to be slid partially over the opposite ends of thebase flange of the splice bar whereby to lock the ends of the splice baragainst vertical and lateral displacement from the rails, said chairsand said base flanges of the splice bar and the rails having registeringopenings, and spikes engaging downwardly through said openings forinterlocking said members together.

2. In a rail joint, a pair of rails each having a tongue upon its endextending from the web of the rail, the tongue being provided with arecess in its upper edge, a splice bar having a slot in its under sideadapted to receive said tongues upwardly therethrough, lugs carried bythe splice bar in the slot thereof for engagement in said recesses tolock the tongues from spreading apart, chairs engaging the base flangesof the rails and the base flange sections of the splice bar whereby tointerlock the splice bar to the rails, said chairs, base flanges, andbase flange sections having registering openings therein, and spikesadapted to be driven downwardly through said openings to interlock thesplice bar and the rails to said chairs.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed'my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CECIL V. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

JOHN H. Sreenns, J OHN R. RAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

